BRAD McManus didn't think he'd ever be coaching a senior representative side.
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But, the successful North Tamworth coach will head the Greater Northern Tigers in their Country Championship quest this season and the boy from Bingara is delighted to have the chance.
"It's a bit of uncharted waters for me," McManus said.
"I've been in the Tigers system with the 16s and 18s for a few years but never coached a senior rep side."
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His credentials are outstanding.
As a teenager McManus starred at Bingara and made the Northern Division - now Greater Northern - side and won a Country Championship in 1999.
He moved to Newcastle but then relocated to Tamworth and had four years at West Tamworth winning a Group 4 senior title in 2004.
More success came his way when he "moved across the river" to North Tamworth Bears in 2005 where he played in premiership winning sides under "Tubby and Parso" - Luke Taylor and Matt Parsons.
In 2013, McManus coached the North reserves grade as well as playing in a first grade side that "came from fourth only to lose to West in the grand final".
In 2014 he coached the unbeaten Bears to a Group 4 premiership as well as winning the Clayton Cup and "we won it again in 2014".
Zac Russ coached the Bears the next year before Scott Blanch captain-coached the Bears to premierships in 2018-19.
"That's six in a row we've won," McManus said of the outstanding run.
He was in the background the last two years at Norths, helping out Scott Blanch and his assistant Richard Ingram.
This year he will coach the Bears again with Ingram his assistant and Blanch captaining the Bears.
"They'll be with me in Northern Division too," he said of the Greater Northern Tigers.
"It's a challenge. I never thought in my life I'd ever coach a senior Northern Division (Greater Northern) side but I'm going to give it a good crack and have a go. There's some good young talent about as well as some good older blokes."
He has an extended squad of 36 to work with and they will train together at Jack Woolaston Oval on Wednesday night.
"Then we have a trial against Newcastle at Morrie Breen Oval, Wyong on February 13," he said.
"That's going to be a real big day. The 16s and 18s also play second round Country Championship games and the Northern Division ladies tackle side also have a trial against Newcastle as well."
